Arrest made in Civic Center shooting

A Monroe man was charged second-degree murder and possession of a firearm of a convicted felon following a Sunday morning shooting at the Monroe Civic Center that left two dead and three wounded.

On Monday, Monroe Police Chief Quentin Holmes announced that Jaterrious "Dra" Godfrey, 24, of 1005 Girod St., Monroe, was arrested following an investigation. Holmes said an arrest warrant was obtained for Godfrey on a count of second-degree murder and a count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon after witnesses identified him as one of the shooters in the Sunday morning event.

Godfrey was arrested around 1 a.m. Monday and booked into Ouachita Correctional Center with a bond of $650,000.

Holmes previously said officers were dispatched to the Civic Center parking lot shortly after 1:30 a.m. Sunday regarding a fight that had broken out as patrons were leaving a private event attended by as many as 2,000 people.

An initial investigation suggested that two groups with a previously existing conflict stated fighting in the parking lot after the event. As officers were responding, gunshots were fired, and five people were hit.

Two victims died, and three were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The names of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of next-of-kin.

The party was a BYOB event, according to reports, but Holmes said further investigation, including autopsy reports, would be required to determine if the victims had consumed alcohol before the shooting.